Эпоха невинности

           "Dear,"Archerwhispered,pressinghertohim:itwasborneinonhimthatthefirsthoursofbeingengaged,evenifspentinaball-room,hadinthemsomethinggraveandsacramental.Whatanewlifeitwasgoingtobe,withthiswhiteness,radiance,goodnessatone’sside!Thedanceover,thetwo,asbecameanaffiancedcouple,wanderedintotheconservatory;andsittingbehindatallscreenoftree-fernsandcamelliasNewlandpressedherglovedhandtohislips."YouseeIdidasyouaskedmeto,"shesaid."Yes:Icouldn’twait,"heansweredsmiling.Afteramomentheadded:"OnlyIwishithadn’thadtobeataball.""Yes,Iknow."Shemethisglancecomprehendingly."Butafterall—evenherewe’realonetogether,aren’twe?""Oh,dearest—always!"Archercried.Evidentlyshewasalwaysgoingtounderstand;shewasalwaysgoingtosaytherightthing.Thediscoverymadethecupofhisblissoverflow,andhewentongaily:"TheworstofitisthatIwanttokissyouandIcan’t."Ashespokehetookaswiftglanceabouttheconservatory,assuredhimselfoftheirmomentaryprivacy,andcatchinghertohimlaidafugitivepressureonherlips.Tocounteracttheaudacityofthisproceedingheledhertoabamboosofainalesssecludedpartoftheconservatory,andsittingdownbesideherbrokealily-of-the-valleyfromherbouquet.Shesatsilent,andtheworldlaylikeasunlitvalleyattheirfeet."DidyoutellmycousinEllen?"sheaskedpresently,asifshespokethroughadream.Herousedhimself,andrememberedthathehadnotdoneso.